Help hidden gems to shine

By JENNY LITTLE
Updated:

 

DO you know a successful woman who runs a great business, but who is too busy or too modest to seek recognition? You could celebrate her achievements - and inspire other women - by entering her for the NatWest Everywoman Awards.

Artist Pollyana Pickering

There are only ten days left to submit entries to this prestigious event, supported by Financial Mail, which focuses on top female entrepreneurs and highlights the personal sacrifice behind professional success.

One in three company owners are women, a number that is growing. But while female entrepreneurs can nominate themselves for the awards, Maxine Benson, co-founder of the Everywoman business network, believes that many often fail to sing their own praises.

'Every year, more nominations come in from friends, family, employees, bank managers and business colleagues,' she says. 'These people know that female business owners deserve recognition for their achievements, but the women themselves are too busy to submit an entry or don't believe that their hard work warrants acknowledgment.'

Pollyanna Pickering is one such woman. While Pollyanna, 63, from Matlock in Derbyshire, is a renowned wildlife artist who has produced work for Harrods, Wedgwood and the RSPCA, her staff felt she deserved recognition for the burgeoning business she has set up to distribute her artwork.

Pollyanna won the Hera award in last year's event, a category aimed at inspirational businesswomen aged over 50. She says: 'I'd only ever entered for art prizes rather than business awards, but it was such a confidence boost to win last year. It is a great message to send out that art can be a business and successful.

'It's been hard and slow work growing the company over the past 20 years, but it makes it worthwhile to be taken seriously. Hopefully it will also prove inspirational to other female business owners.'

There are four awards divided by age, representing women up to 25, those between 26 and 35 and entrepreneurs of 36 to 49, as well as the over-50s.

One overall winner is also chosen across the categories to collect the NatWest Everywoman Award.

Financial Mail editor Lisa Buckingham says: 'Women are making great strides in business. More are overcoming the hurdles to setting up and growing their own enterprises, but too few are prepared to shout about their achievements. We urge

female business owners to enter these awards. If they are too modest, perhaps family, friends or colleagues could send in entries on their behalf so that we can give exceptional business women the acknowledgment they so strongly deserve.'

The deadline for entries is August 31 and winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Savoy hotel in London in November.

• To enter, phone 0870 746 1800 or visit everywoman.co.uk or fmwf.com.

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